Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of the Zhikang capsule on the growth and apoptosis of breast cancer cell line MCF-7.

Method: MTT method was used to detect the growth situation of normal breast cancer MCF-7 cells at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after treatment by Zhikang capsule and the effects of Zhikang capsule on cell cycle of MCF-7 cells were detected by flow cytometry using flow cytometer. The effects of 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after treatment by Zhikang capsule on the growth of normal breast cancer MCF-7 cells were measured by flow cytometry; the effect of Zhikang capsule on apoptosis of MCF-7 cells was detected by PI single staining flow cytometry.

Result: Different concentrations of Zhikang capsule could effectively inhibit the growth of MCF-7 cells, and with the increase of concentration and extension of action time, the cell growth inhibition rate increased. The MCF-7 cells were effect for 72 h by the 0.5, 1, 2.0 mg/ml of the Zhikang capsule, and the proportion of G0/G1 phase cells in cell cycle was 19.33 ± 10.38%, 14.12 ± 5.37% and 26.84 ± 2.13%; While the control group G0/G1 phase ratio was 51.83 ± 1.90%. The apoptosis rate of the cells were 2.09 ± 0.74%, 3.84 ± 0.78% and 5.35 ± 0.83% respectively treated by the 0.5, 1, 2.0 mg/ml of the Zhikang capsule.

Conclusion: The Zhikang capsule could inhibit the growth of MCF-7 cells in vitro, and the inhibitory effect showed the time effect and dose effect relationship; and it could promote the apoptosis of breast cancer cells by blocking the cell cycle in the G2/M phase.